Hoijse electric



Oct. l, 1929. H. sTojl-LEMEYER 1,729,904

TROLLEY EAR Filed Sept. 2. 19\2\6\ BY- WC AT'TORNEY Patented Get. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE JOHN STOTLEMEYER, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA TROLLEY EAR Application led September 2, 1926. Serial No. 133,100.

My invention relates to suspension devices for trolley wires and more particularly to that device known as a trolley ear.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a trolley ear which is inexpensive to manufacture and so constructed that it lends itself to shopmethods.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ear, the several parts of which are best adapted to the functions which they are intended to contribute to the device. The body is selected for its strength and rigidity, the channel for its strength, malleability, conductivity and commutating property.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ear which will have a long life in service and will not deteriorate by reason of sparking between the trolley wire and wheel.

A further object of my invention is to provide an ear adapted for better electrical conductivity between the wire and the channel when the trolley-wheel is in contact with the channel than in those devices hitherto provided.

My invention provides, in general, a twopart, inexpensive trolley ear, the parts of which are well adapted to the work which they are to perform.

Hitherto, trolley ears have been cast in one piece. The alloy used was necessarily a lcompromise between a commutating material suitable for vthe channel and a hard, strong, light alloy suitable for the body. The ear was expensive to manufacture, as the channel had to be cast solid and then machined. The channel portions of other types were cast with one side of the channel flared out, the flared-out portion being bent into position after casting. In the latter type, it was necessary to utilize a malleable and easily abraded metal.

My invention utilizes two materials for the trolley ear: thus materials may be selected that are most suitable for the functions the several parts `are intended to perform. The channel is made of rolled copper and 'the body is made of a strong rigid alloy. The channel is formed with openings punched. therein., the punching being performed in a manner such that the punehecbout metal forms 11p-struck lugs on the channel. Vhen the body metal is cast on the channel, the metal flows around the lugs and into the openings in a manner such that the two parts are firmly interlocked.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an ear constructed in accordance with my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the ear shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof;

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view in section, taken along the line V-V of Fig. 3.

The ear shown in Fig. 1 comprises a U- shaped rolled copper channel 1 and a bodyportion 2 of metal -cast thereon. rlfhe central portion of the channel 1 is provided with a plurality of 11p-struck lugs, prongs or inserts 5, 6, 7 and 8, punched therefrom. These lugs are arranged to pro-ject obliquely from the body of the channel so that a pair of lugs, such as lugs 5 and 6 form converging prongs around which the metal body 2 is cast. Lugs 7 and 8 form another such pair. When the body is cast, the metal envelopes these lugs and forms a dovetailed structure. On cooling, the body metal contracts and grips the "channel tightly with a wedging action. The gripping action is further aided by the fact that the body metalk flows through the openings 9, 10, 11 and 12 that are left by the upstruck lugs.

Openings 14, and 15, 16 and 17, are punched in the channel and the edges of the openings are turned up or swedged. The body material upon casting flows through these 'openings and forms button-shaped structures 18,`

19, 20 and 21. As the edges of the openings are turned up on all sides the button-shaped structures resist side pull on the ear as well as a downward or a longitudinal pull. This function is important because the ear must resist side shear when used on curves,

The body portion may correspond to' the struct-,ure cammen to trelley ears comprises a hub portion 23 having a threaded opening. Ribs 2li and 25, extending from the hub to points intermediate the hub and the ends of the channel, are provided for stiffening the channel and are composed of the same material as the hub. The ribs extend over the surface of the channel and form interlocking members when cast around the lugs and openings thereof.

` In making the trolley ear, the channel is first cut out in the form of a flat blank of the proper dimensions. In the next operation, the channel is shaped and then punched toform the lugs or inserts. Openings, such as ll, are punched in the channel and the edges swedged upward by continuance of the punching operation, the swedging being accomplished by a countersink portion of the punch. Other shaped openings, such as 9, are punched in the channel and by a continuance of the punching operation the prongs, such as 5, are formed from the punched-out metal. The prepared channel portion is` then clamped in a mold or die and the body metal is cast integrally with the channel and lugs, as previously described.

The body of the channel preferably consists of malleable rolled copper so that the channel may be easily swedged around the trolley wire to form a secure joint having the same conductivity as. the wire itself.

When a trolley wheel passes under one of my conductor supports, the wheel rolls along the. lower surfaces of the channel, and the conducting path to the` wheel is formed through the channel and its contact with the wire. My structure provides ahornogeneous conductor, since the wire and channel are composed of materials having like` electrical properties., Therefore, sparking between the trolley wheel and the trolleyear is prevented and physical reactions on the trolley ear which tend to shorten the life thereof are eliminated.

My invention provides a. composite trolley ear of unitary structure composed of a plural:- ity of metals having dissimilar properties. Each metal is embodied inthat portion of the structure which performs the function for which the properties of the metal embodied therein are best adapted. In use, the ear has a long life, because copper is utilized as the conductor between trolley wire and trolley wheel. My invention otherwise provides means for securely joining the cast metal and the conducting metal portions so that a permanent unitary structure results.

Although I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself thereto, as various modifications "of my device may be made and will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For eX- ample the form and disposition of the lugs may be radically changed or I may utilize metals other than copper for the channel and cast body. A previously cast channel of suitably resilient material may be utilized for the channel portion of my device. Still other modilicat-ions of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as delined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A conductor support comprising a metal channel having upstruck lugs thereon and a metal body cast about said lugs and said channel.

2. A conduct-or support comprising a metal channel, a metal body and joining means integral. with the metal channel, whereby the metal body is joined to said channel by casttlie body around the joining means.

3. A conductor support comprising a metal channel, a metal body and joining means embodied therein, whereby the metal body is joined to said channel by casting said body about a pre-provided portion ofr said channel.

Il. A trolley conductor holder comprising a carrying member having a longitudinally extending recess in its lower face and projections on its upper face, and a body member interlocled by casting with said carrying ifnernber about the projections on its upper ace.

5. A trolley conductor holder comprising prising a copper channel, said channel being provided with openings and with lip-thrust metal lugs, a die cast metal body, the metal of said body being cast around said lugs and in said openings of said channel, thereby forming an interlocking unit.

8. A. conduc-tor-supporting device comprising a copper' channel, said channel being provided with openings and with up-thrust lugs of" metal contiguous to said openings, a cast body, the metal of said body being formed around said lugs and in said openings of said channel thereby to form a firmly interlocking unit.

9. A conductor-supportingdevice comprising a copper channel, said channel being provided with openings and the. lip-thrust metal from said openings forming lugs, a die cast bronze body, the metal of said body being formed around said channel and lugs to form a iirmly interlocking unit.

10. A conductor-supporting device comprising a, copper channel, said channel being provided With openings and the up-thrust metal from said openings forming lugs, a die cast bronze body, the metal of Said body being formed around said lugs and in said openings of said channel to form a firmly interlocking unit.

11. A conductorsupporting device comprising a conductor-carrying member provided with L plurality of openings and a body member cest with portions in the openings in the conductor-carrying member to form a firmly interlocking unit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th dafy of August,

JOHN H. STOTLEMEYER'. 

